Arch support and heel cushion



' B. STEWART ARCH SUPPORT AND HEEL cusruou Filed Jan. 29, 1924 Patented Oct. 1925. I

UNITED STATES BEN-1' AKIN STEWART,

1,557,941 PATENT OFFICE.

01' DI 110mm, IOWA.

- Anon surroa'r Am) mam. cosmon.

Application Med January 28, 1984. Serial in. 888,818.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN STEWART, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Arch Support and Heel Cushion, of which the following is a specification.

The object of m invention is to provide a new and novel are support and heel cushion of sim 1e, durable and Inexpensive construction 0 the pneumatic type.

A further object is to provide such an arch support and heel cushion, so arranged and constructed that it can be mounted entirely withina shoe, without any hard or rough parts in contact with the foot.

Another object is to provide such a device having under the heel portion a valve and valve casing in combination with a shoe having a socket in the heel on the interior of the shoe to receive such valve and valve casing.

Still another object is to provide with such an arch support and heel cushion an insole having a tongue extending around the rear portion of the device. and provided with a hole to receive the valve casing;

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my archsupport and heel cushion whereby the objects contem lated are attained, as hereinafter more $111 set forth, pointed out in my claim, and il ustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoewith parts broken away to show my im proved arch support and heel cushion therein, the insole being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a shoe with my device installed therein.

Figure 3 is a top or plan view of an arch support and heel cushion embodying my invention; and

Figure 4 is a lan view of a portion of the insole showing t e tongue thereon.

It will be understood'that my arch sup port and heel cushion may be varied in size and shape tofit different shoes and feet and be accommodated tothe particular circumstances.

Myarch support and heel cushion com-' prises an elongated resilient container or bag indicated in the accompanying drawings by the reference character '10 adapted to extend from the back of the shoe under the heel forwardly under the arch of the foot to lt)hlalball of the foot or a distance under the The air container or bag 10 may be of rubber or other suitable material and is referably of substantially the same width rom end to end. I prefer this form because with such'for'm, there is not the likelihood of having so much air in the forward part of the container, as might tilt the foot upwardly in front, when standing upright.

The heel portion of the bag 10 has on its under side a valve casing 11 to form a projecting stem, to anchor or hold the device in place as herein later referred to in which is an ordinary check valve 12, which ma be of an desired 'kind for the purpose. container has formed thereon a tube 11' to receive the casing.-

This casing 11 is designed to be projected downwardly and be received in a socket 13 made of aluminum or any ot er suitable material in the heel of the shoe 14, as shown in Figure 2. The reception of the valve casing 11 in the socket 13 serves to hold the arch support and heel cushion in proper position in the shoe for supporting the arch and cushioning the heel.

Secured to the forward edge of the arch support and heel cushion is an extension 15 of rubber or other suitable material shaped to fit the forward art of the interior of the shoe, as shown in. igure 3. The extension 15 serves to give a smooth surface for the foot and prevents rubbing or wear at the forward end of the bag or container 10.

The bag or container 10 is rounded at its rearward end to fit and cover the shoe heel and is preferably rounded at its forward end, as shown, and the extension 15 connects with the ba for a distance rearwardly of its forwar end, as illustrated. The

extension 15 being shaped to fit the shoe also serves to prevent lateral movement of the forward end of the bag or container 10.

"This is of some importance in view of the fact that the bag is practicallyof the same width at both ends.

It will be seen that I have thus provided .It is preferably of substantially the same width from end to end so that. too much air will not be pressed user stands upright and thereby raise the forwardly when the front' of the foot too much, and yet the 'should have some stiifness and may be made of any material suitable for the purpose.

At its rear end, the sock lining 16 has a flexible ton ue 17 which is folded'around and under t e rear end of the bag 10 and is rovided with a hole 18 to receive the easmg 11. This tongue 17 thus serves to hold the sock linin in sition particularly against sliding orwar y in the shoe.

In preparation and use of m invention,. the container is inflated with air according to the users desire; then the sock lining is laid over it and the tongue 17 is folded around and under the rear end with the casing 11 extended through the hole in the tongue. The entire device is then placed in the shoe, with-the casing 11 inserted down- .wardly into the socket 13. j v

Some modifications ma be made in my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose thereof, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any such modifications or chan es in structure as may be reasonably included within its scope.

I claim as my invention:

In a structure of the class described, the combination of an arch support and heel cushion, comprising a pneumatic resilient air container having onits under side near ,its. rear portion a small, downwardly projecting tubular extension, and a valve structure received in said extension, with a shoe having a recess in its. heel opening into the shoe for receiving said extension and valve structure, a loose flexible sock lining for covering the pneumatic member having at its rear portion a tongue folded around and under t said tubular extension.

DesMoines, Iowa January 22, 1924.

BENZIAMIN STEWART.

e rear portion of vthe pneumatic member and provided with a hole receiving 

